Electrode Polarity - which info. is correct
Talking stick welding here and electrode polarity. Everything I've read has said with electrode +ve you get max. penetration, and with electrode negative you get less penetration.
I've got a book from Hare & Forbes - Metal Fabrication Course - Apprentice Reference Notes (the thick green A4 paperback with pages that look like terrible photocopies). On page 331 it says the following:
"When a welding current flows across an arc gap 2/3 of the heat of the arc is generated on the side (pole) which is being bombarded by the electrons".
Then a bit further down:
"......the greater amount of heat can be concentrated on the parent metal to increase to increase the depth of penetration, by making the parent metal positive and the electrode negative. Alternatively if greater deposition rate is important the parent metal should be connected negative and the electrode positive, the greater amount of heat increasing burn off rate".
This is completely opposite to what I have "learned" so far. Which one is wrong ?? I've tried electrode negative and thought it made the rod a bit more aggressive, as has another member here who said it made his burn through issue worse. Now I'm left scratching my head about this one.
Cheers,
Keith.